STCW Convention

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification

and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
INCLUDING 2010 MANILA AMENDMENTS
Consolidated Edition, 2017

Supplement
December 2022
Since the publication of the STCW 2017 Consolidated Edition, the following amendments to the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention),
and Parts A and B of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code have been adopted
by the Maritime Safety Committee.

Resolution Amends Date of entry Page

into force
MSC.478(102) Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping 1 January 2021 2
(STCW) Code
Resolution 2
Part B: Recommended guidance regarding provisions
of the STCW Convention and its annex
Chapter I: Guidance regarding general provisions
Section B-I/2: Guidance regarding certificates and
endorsements
Table B-I/2: List of certificates or documentary
evidence required under the STCW Convention
MSC.486(103) International Convention on Standards of Training, 1 January 2023 7
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978
(STCW Convention)
Resolution 1
Chapter I: General provisions
Regulation I/1: Definitions and clarifications
MSC.487(103) Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping 1 January 2023 8
(STCW) Code
Resolution 2
Part A: Mandatory standards regarding provisions of
the annex to the STCW Convention
Chapter I: Standards regarding general provisions
Section A-I/1: Definitions and clarifications

Copyright © International Maritime Organization 2022 (Sales number ID938E)

Resolution MSC.478(102)
adopted on 5 November 2020

Seafarers’ Training, Certification

and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code

Resolution 2

Part B
Recommended guidance regarding provisions of
the STCW Convention and its annex

Chapter I
Guidance regarding general provisions

Section B-I/2
Guidance regarding certificates and endorsements

1 “Table B-I/2” in section B-I/2 is replaced by the following:

“Table B-I/2
List of certificates or documentary evidence required under the STCW Convention

The list below identifies all certificates or documentary evidence described in the Convention which authorize the
holder to serve in certain capacities, perform certain duties or functions or be assigned certain responsibilities on
board ships. The certificates are subject to the requirements of regulation I/2 regarding language and their availability
in original form.

The list also references the relevant regulations and the requirements for endorsement, registration and revalidation.

Revalidation
of a
Endorsement
certificate or
Type of certificate or Seafarers required to attesting
Registration maintenance
Regulations documentary evidence and hold the certificate or recognition of
required2 of the
brief description documentary evidence a certificate
required
required1
standard of
competence3
II/1, II/2, Certificate of Competency4 Masters, officers and Yes Yes Yes5
II/3, III/1, GMDSS radio operators
III/2, III/3,
III/6, IV/2,
VII/2
II/4, II/5, Certificate of Proficiency Ratings forming part No Yes No
III/4, III/5, of a navigational or
III/7, VII/2 engine-room watch (other
than those under training
or whose duties are of
an unskilled nature),
and ratings serving as
able seafarer deck,
able seafarer engine or
electrotechnical rating

2 DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017)


Type of certificate or
Regulations documentary evidence and
brief description
V/1-1, V/1-2 Certificate of Proficiency or
endorsement to a Certificate
of Competency – Basic
training for oil and chemical
or liquefied gas tanker cargo
operations
V/1-1, V/1-2 Certificate of Proficiency or
endorsement to a Certificate
of Competency – Advanced
training for oil, chemical or
liquefied gas tanker cargo
operations
V/1-1, V/1-2 Certificate of Proficiency or
endorsement to an existing
Certificate of Proficiency –
Basic training for oil and
chemical or liquefied gas
tanker cargo operations
V/1-1, V/1-2 Certificate of Proficiency or
endorsement to an existing
Certificate of Proficiency –
Advanced training for oil,
chemical or liquefied gas
tanker cargo operations
V/2 Documentary evidence –
Safety training
V/2 Documentary evidence –
Passenger ship crowd
management training
V/2 Documentary evidence –
Crisis management and
human behaviour training
DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017)
Resolution MSC.478(102)
Table B-I/2 (continued)
Revalidation
of a
Endorsement
certificate or
Seafarers required to attesting
Registration maintenance
hold the certificate or recognition of
required2 of the
documentary evidence a certificate
required
required1
standard of
competence3
Officers assigned specific Yes Yes Yes5
duties and responsibilities
related to cargo or cargo
equipment on board
tankers
Masters, chief engineer Yes Yes Yes5
officers, chief mates,
second engineer officers
and any officer with
immediate responsibility
for loading, discharging,
care in transit, handling
of cargo, tank cleaning
or other cargo-related
operations on board
tankers
Ratings assigned specific No Yes No
duties and responsibilities
related to cargo or cargo
equipment on board
tankers
Any person, other than No Yes No
masters and officers, with
immediate responsibility
for loading, discharging,
care in transit, handling
of cargo, tank cleaning
or other cargo-related
operations on board
tankers
Personnel providing direct No No No
service to passengers
in passenger spaces on
board passenger ships
Masters, officers, ratings No No Yes6
qualified in accordance
with chapters II, III and
VII and other personnel
designated on the muster
list to assist passengers in
emergency situations on
board passenger ships
Masters, chief engineer No No Yes6
officers, chief mates,
second engineer officers
and any person designated
on the muster list of
having responsibility for
the safety of passengers in
emergency situations on
board passenger ships
3
Resolution MSC.478(102)

Table B-I/2 (continued)

Revalidation
of a
Endorsement
certificate or
Type of certificate or Seafarers required to attesting
Registration maintenance
Regulations documentary evidence and hold the certificate or recognition of
required2 of the
brief description documentary evidence a certificate
required
required1
standard of
competence3
V/2 Documentary evidence – Masters, chief engineer No No Yes6
Passenger safety, cargo safety officers, chief mates,
and hull integrity training second engineer officers
and every person assigned
immediate responsibility
for embarking and
disembarking passengers,
for loading, discharging
or securing cargo, or for
closing hull openings on
board ro-ro passenger
ships
V/3 Certificate of Proficiency – Seafarers responsible for No Yes Yes6
Basic training for service on designated safety duties
ships subject to the IGF Code associated with the care,
use or in emergency
response to the fuel on
board ships subject to the
IGF Code
V/3 Certificate of Proficiency – Masters, engineer officers No Yes Yes6
Advanced training for service and all personnel with
on ships subject to the IGF immediate responsibility
Code for the care and use of
fuels and fuel systems on
ships subject to the IGF
Code
V/4 Certificate of Proficiency – Masters, chief mates and No Yes Yes5
Basic training for ships officers in charge of a
operating in polar waters navigational watch on
ships operating in polar
waters, as required by the
Polar Code
V/4 Certificate of Proficiency – Masters and chief mates No Yes Yes5
Advanced training for ships on ships operating in polar
operating in polar waters waters, as required by the
Polar Code
VI/1 Certificate of Proficiency7 – Seafarers employed No Yes Yes8
Basic training or engaged in any
capacity on board
ship on the business
of that ship as part of
the ship’s complement
with designated safety
or pollution-prevention
duties in the operation of
the ship
VI/2 Certificate of Proficiency7 – Seafarers designated to No Yes Yes8
Survival craft and rescue operate survival craft and
boats other than fast rescue rescue boats other than
boats fast rescue boats
VI/2 Certificate of Proficiency – Seafarers designated to No Yes Yes8
Fast rescue boats operate fast rescue boats
VI/3 Certificate of Proficiency7 – Seafarers designated No Yes Yes8
Advanced fire fighting to control fire-fighting
operations

4 DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017)

 Resolution MSC.478(102)

Table B-I/2 (continued)

Revalidation
of a
Endorsement
certificate or
Type of certificate or Seafarers required to attesting
Registration maintenance
Regulations documentary evidence and hold the certificate or recognition of
required2 of the
brief description documentary evidence a certificate
required
required1
standard of
competence3
VI/4 Certificate of Seafarers designated to No Yes No
Proficiency7, 11 – provide medical first aid
Medical first aid on board ship
VI/4 Certificate of Proficiency11 – Seafarers designated to No Yes No
Medical care take charge of medical
care on board ship
VI/5 Certificate of Proficiency – Seafarers designated as No Yes No
Ship security officer ship security officer
VI/6 Certificate of Seafarers employed or No Yes No
Proficiency9, 10 – Security engaged in any capacity
awareness training on board a ship which
is required to comply
with the provisions of the
ISPS Code on the business
of that ship as part of
the ship’s complement
without designated
security duties
VI/6 Certificate of Seafarers designated to No Yes No
Proficiency9, 10 – Training perform security duties,
for seafarers with designated including antipiracy and
security duties antiarmed-robbery-related
activities

DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017) 5

Resolution MSC.478(102)

Table B-I/2 (continued)

Notes:
1
Endorsement attesting recognition of a certificate means endorsement in accordance with regulation I/2, paragraph 7, issued
under the conditions specified in regulation I/10, paragraph 1. Documentary proof that an application for an endorsement has
been submitted to the Administration shall also be accepted under the conditions specified in regulation I/10 paragraph 5.
2
Registration required means as part of a register or registers in accordance with regulation I/2, paragraph 14.
3
Revalidation of a certificate or maintenance of the required standard of competence means establishing continued
professional competence in accordance with regulation I/11, undertaking appropriate refresher training or providing evidence
of having achieved or maintained the required standards of competence in accordance with regulations V/2 and V/3; and
sections A-VI/1 to A-VI/3, as applicable.
4
In accordance with article VIII, if a seafarer serves in a capacity for which they do not hold the appropriate certificate, a
dispensation issued by the Administration should be required. However, this is not applicable to radio operators, unless the
relevant radio regulations provide otherwise.
5
Revalidation in accordance with regulation I/11.
6
As required by regulations V/2, paragraph 4 and V/3, paragraph 12, seafarers shall, at intervals not exceeding 5 years,
undertake appropriate refresher training or be required to provide evidence of having achieved the required standard of
competence within the previous 5 years.
7
The certificates of competency issued in accordance with regulations II/1, II/2, II/3, III/1, III/2, III/3, III/6 and VII/2 include
the proficiency requirements in “basic training”, “survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats”, “advanced
fire fighting”, and “medical first aid”; therefore, holders of certificates mentioned are not required to carry Certificates of
Proficiency in respect of those competencies in chapter VI.
8
Seafarers qualified under regulation VI/1 (basic training) related to the competencies “personal survival techniques” and “fire
prevention and fire fighting”, regulation VI/2 (survival craft, rescue boats and fast rescue boats) and regulation VI/3 (advanced
fire fighting) are required, every 5 years, to provide evidence of having maintained the required standards of competency in
accordance with the provisions of sections A-VI/1, paragraph 3; A-VI/2, paragraphs 5 and 11; and A-VI/3, paragraph 5.
9
Ship security officer training encompasses the competency requirements of section A-VI/6, and therefore holders of such
a certificate of proficiency should not be required to undergo further training and obtain certification under section A-VI/6
related to competency for security awareness and training for seafarers with designated security duties. In addition, training
for seafarers with designated security duties encompasses the competency requirements of section A-VI/6, paragraph 4, and
therefore holders of such certificate of proficiency should not be required to undergo further training and obtain certification
related to competency for security awareness.
10
Where security awareness training or training in designated security duties is not included in the qualification for the
certificate to be issued, a certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended a course of training for
designated security duties.
11
Where training in medical first aid or medical care is not included in the qualifications for the certificate to be issued, a
certificate of proficiency shall be issued indicating that the holder has attended a course of training in medical first aid or in
medical care.

6 DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017)

Resolution MSC.486(103)
adopted on 13 May 2021

International Convention on Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978
(STCW Convention)

Resolution 1

Chapter I
General provisions

Regulation I/1
Definitions and clarifications

1 In regulation I/1.1, the following new definition is added:

“.44 High-voltage means an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) voltage in excess of 1,000 volts.”

DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017) 7

Resolution MSC.487(103)
adopted on 13 May 2021

Seafarers’ Training, Certification

and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code

Resolution 2

Part A
Mandatory standards regarding provisions
of the annex to the STCW Convention

Chapter I
Standards regarding general provisions

Section A-I/1
Definitions and clarifications

1 In section A-I/1, sub-paragraph .3, under the definition for “Operational level” replace sub-paragraph .3.1
with the following:
“.3.1 serving as officer in charge of a navigational or engineering watch or as designated duty engineer for
periodically unmanned machinery spaces or as electro-technical officer or as radio operator on board
a seagoing ship, and”

8 DECEMBER 2022 SUPPLEMENT TO STCW CONVENTION (Consolidated Edition 2017)